Joel g



(1J0 Model.) 1

J. a. WILLARD.

I NUT LOOK.

- No. 244,506.- Patented July 19,1881.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOEL G. WILLARD, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

NUT-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 1w... 244,506, datedJuly 19, 1881.

Application filed April 21, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it mag concern Be it known that I, J OEL G. WILLARD, of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locking Devices for Screw- Oaps, Nuts, 850., of which the following is a specification.

My improvements consist in the combination, with a screw-threaded neck or bolt having grooves or notches extending lengthwise of it and transversely to the screw-thread, of a screw cap or nut carrying a catch extending through a slot in it and connected with it by a spring or resilient shank lying in an external groove in it, said'shank and said groove both being parallel with the axis of the bolt or neck and the cap or nut.

The improvements also consist in such cornbination of the screw cap or nut and catch that the latter when retracted from the groove or notch in the screw neck or bolt will be retained in that position. I

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view, partly in section, of the bonnetvalve, valve-stem, stufling-box, and screw-cap for the stuffing-box, of a compression-cock embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a transverse section thereof on the plane of the dotted line :0 :12, Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrow, and Fig. 3 represents a side view taken in a plane at right angles to Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

A designates the bonnet of a compression cock provided with a screw-hub, a, for securing it to the body of the cock in the usual manner.

B designates the valve of the cock. It is provided with a stem, B, which is externally screw-threaded, and engages with a screwthread in the interior of the neck A of the bonnet. Its upper portion passes through a stuffing-box formed between the neck Acf the bonnet, and a screw-cap, C, fitting thereon. At the outer end this stem is provided with a hand-wheel, B whereby it may be adjusted. The upper end of the neck A of the bonnet is externally screw-threaded, and the interior of the cap 0 is internally screw-threaded to fit and engage with the same.

Extending lengthwise of the neck A of the bonnet and transversely to the screw-thread thereon are grooves or notches I), here shown as two in number.

D designates a catch fitted in a slot, 11, in the end of the screw-cap, and afifixed to a spring or resilient shank, D, lying in a groove, 01, in the exterior of the screw-cap and secured to the latter at one end by a pin or screw, 8. The grooves or notches b are so formed that the catch may ride out of them over to the screwthread on the exterior of the neck of the bonnet when the cap is turned in a direction to screw it farther on, but will engage with them positively when the cap is so turned as to tend to screw it farther oft. Thus the screw-cap will be secured against accidental displacement or loosening.

When it is desirable to screw the cap farther oft it is only necessary to pull the catch D out of the groove or notch 12, with which it may be engaged and to turn the cap in the proper direction. The catch may be conveniently manipulated by means of a hand-piece, e, whichprojects beyond it.

It will be obvious from the foregoing description that the catch may engage with the grooves or notches at any point in their length, and hence that the screw-cap may be locked in almost any position to which it may be adjusted. This catch and its shank do not project from the screw-cap, and hence are not in the way. The only part that need project beyond the contour of the ordinary screw-cap is the hand-piece e, and this need not be materially in the way. No part need project from the side of the screw-cap, hence a wrench may be. aflixed to all sides of the screw-cap with the ordinary facility. Moreover there is nothing to project over the bonnet beyond its external screw-thread, hence a wrench may be applied to all sides of the polygonal portion f of the bonnet in screwing it into the body.

It will be clearly understood that the grooves or notches b, the resilient shank D of the catch D, and the groove d wher'einsaid shank fits are all. parallel with the axis of the neck A and cap 0, and as said shank fits in the groove 01 it is held against lateral movement by the sides of said grooves, and its pin or screw 8 is relieved of strain.

To enable the catch to be held away from the grooves or notches b when it is desired to screw the screw-cap off, I preferably make it and the slots 0 in which it fits taper outward, as shown in Fig. 2, so that when the catch is drawn outward it will wedge in the said slot and be retained there. When the catch is desired to lock the screw-cap again the catch is pushed inward to release it, and thereupon its spring-shank operates to press and hold it inward again.

If desirable, the spring or shank of the catch may be bent around the end of the screw-cap and have the catch attached to it at its e2:- trenie end.

A great advantage of this invention is that it may be applied to old compressioncocks or other articles.

It is obvious that my improvements are applicable to screw bolts and nuts.

It will be found "cry desirable for these articles because of its simplicity and oheapness, and because a bolt to which it is applied may become bent or twisted without affecting the locking of the catch.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with a screw-threaded neck or bolt having grooves or notches extending lengthwise of it and transversely to the screw-thread, of a screw cap or not carrying a catch extending through a slot in it and con- 0 neeted with it by a spring or resilient shank lying in an external groove in it, the said shank and the groove wherein it rests both being parallel with the axis of the neck or bolt and cap or not, substantially as specified. 5

2. The combination, with a screw-threaded neck or bolt having grooves or notches extending lengthwise of it and transversely to the screw-thread, of a screw cap or nut having an outwardly-tapering slot and a catch fitting in 40 said slot and tapered correspondingly thereto and adapted to engage with the notches or grooves in said neck or bolt, or to he wedged into said slot to hold it out of engagement with said notches or grooves, substantially as speci- 4 5 fied.

JOEL G. WILLARD.

Witnesses:

T. J. KEANE, FREDK. HAYNES. 

